1
as in speech
the art of speaking in public eloquently and effectively
a presidential hopeful with a gift for oratory and a highly charismatic personality
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in rhetoric
language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere
the politician's oratory sounded good only to people who didn't bother to think
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oratory
His toughness, off-the-cuff oratory skills and preference for coaching defense all come from the man whose traits were forged in a northeastern Pennsylvania town his family has called home for more than a century.
—
Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026
King’s ability to take ideas from White preachers’ bland sermons and convert them to stirring oratory was part of his genius, Miller says.
—John Blake, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026
Despite his alliance with the Populists and his soaring oratory, Bryan was defeated by the Republican candidate, William McKinley.
—David McWilliams, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2025
James Garfield, played by the always intense Michael Shannon, brings his intensity to Garfield's public oratory.
—David Bianculli, NPR, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oratory
Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026
King’s ability to take ideas from White preachers’ bland sermons and convert them to stirring oratory was part of his genius, Miller says.
—John Blake, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026
Despite his alliance with the Populists and his soaring oratory, Bryan was defeated by the Republican candidate, William McKinley.
—David McWilliams, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2025
James Garfield, played by the always intense Michael Shannon, brings his intensity to Garfield's public oratory.
—David Bianculli, NPR, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oratory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oratory
Noun
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Councilmember Nithya Raman made what sounded almost like a concession speech.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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More screen time is given over to her burgeoning friendship with firebrand suffragette Mary, played by singer Lily Allen in a deliberately anachronistic performance — her forthright speech and manner beamed in directly from the 21st century.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
3 June 2026
Noun
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Markets have been whipsawed by the abrupt turns in rhetoric, but hopes that a ceasefire extension helped drive stocks toward a historic streak of weekly gains, even as sporadic attacks occur.—
Kate Sullivan,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
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But the proud born-again evangelical is channeling the zeal of an old-fashioned tent revival, even if some of his rhetoric falls far outside the bounds of the Good Book.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Noun
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The language went on to experience centuries of tumult: Viking invasions, which introduced Old Norse influence; Anglo-Norman French rule, which shifted the language of the elite to French; and 18th-Century grammarians, who dictated norms with their elocution and grammar guides.—
Valerie M. Fridland,
The Conversation,
21 Apr. 2026
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Players understanding the play calls filtered through his thick Southern elocution.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
28 July 2025
Noun
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Early in his career, at age 20, Buffett set out to conquer his fear of public speaking by enrolling in a Dale Carnegie course, which still exists today.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
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Prior customer service and public speaking experience preferred.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oratory. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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